A week that saw the loss of the great Sir Christopher Lee demands awesome metal more than most weeks.

This week was a bit slower than the past couple weeks, metal wise. I did happen to post my favorites of the year so far. Check that out if you’re interested. I’ve reviewed all of my picks on here though so I just put a list together. Try something from it. You may be surprised.

NEW STUFFS:

High on Fire – LuminiferousThis is a great return to form album for High on Fire. I wasn’t to taken with their last one as I thought it had no real focus and sort of meandered for most of it’s play time. This one is back to the solid, heavy doom hammering that made Snakes of the Divine so enjoyable. Awesome good times here.

Rocky Votolato & Chuck Ragan – Kindred SpiritI’ll get anything Chuck puts out and like usual, the three songs on here are great. I like the addition of some other like minded singers on the tracks. All the voices together work amazingly well. I wasn’t familiar with Rocky Votolato before this and found him to be a great pairing for a split with Chuck. More of an indie rock vibe to Rocky but the songs are good and well written so I dig it.

Nocturnal Depression – Spleen Black MetalUltra depressive black metal out of France. My first encounter with the band. Really love the string orchestration and the pained howling vocals on this album. Beautiful compositions.

Feral – Where Dead Dreams DwellIt might be because I just listened to Entombed’s Left Hand Path and was left flat by their most recent offering that I dig this band. Based on that you might have surmised that Feral is another band doing the classic Swedish death metal thing. I know there are a million bands towing this party line but it’s sound that I always enjoy. This isn’t going to knock down any walls but it’s a solid homage to those early Swedish death metal bands and some good fun. EDIT: The more I listened to this the more it stuck with me. Super catchy.

Sviatibor – Dans La Splendeur Des DieuxBeautifully crafted and insanely moving French black metal from this one man band. It’s so intricate and ambitious it’s hard to believe one man is responsible for the outcome. It’s also awe-inspiring that he is.

Pale Chalice – Negate the Infinite and MiraculousPretty straight forward black metal. Nothing really stuck out to me the first time through. I think I need to give it another shot. American band but very European sounding.

Cultes des Ghoules – The Rise of LuciferQuick and nasty little EP. Raw and dirty. I’m really hoping they get to another full length some time soon.